It's a bit like the local version of Greta Thunberg.
Climate activist Disha Ravi, 22, was arrested by authorities on Saturday noon and taken into
police
custody in New Delhi for
"sedition"
,
"criminal conspiracy"
and
"rioting"
.
The Fridays for Future movement is in the sights of the Indian government after the sharing on social networks of a "toolbox" intended to support the demonstrations of peasants who have been protesting for three months against the liberalization of agriculture.
This kit, released in January by the Indian branch of the Extinction Rebellion group, proposes three actions to join the peasant protests, the largest social movement since the arrival of the Hindu Right (BJP) in 2014: resorting massively to "strikes online ”via hashtags, address MPs and join protests outside Indian embassies.
According to the authorities, this document led to clashes on January 26, which injured hundreds of police officers and resulted in the death of a protester in the capital.
Disha Ravi is therefore accused of taking part in a "criminal conspiracy", aimed at "launching an economic, social and cultural war in India".
according to a statement from the Delhi Police.
Greta Thunberg under Indian wrath
The tension was escalated in early February, when Greta Thunberg herself shared this kit on Twitter, tagged #StandWithFarmers, before deleting it.
The Swedish climate activist had drawn the wrath of many Indian internet users, the hashtag #GretaThunbergExposed (Greta Thunberg unmasked) quickly becoming one of the most shared.
"
An international plan to systematically destabilize India"
, then reacted the Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs had issued a statement to him
"in response to comments from foreign persons and entities on the protests of farmers" and denounced the
"
interest groups which have tried to mobilize international support against India"
with a
" temptation to sensational hashtags and comments on social media, especially when used by celebrities and others, [who] are neither accurate nor responsible
”
.
Following these messages, the police launched on February 5 an investigation into those who stir up
"discontent and malice"
against the government.
Hundreds of Twitter accounts have also been blocked.